Tom braxton biography
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About the Artist
Jazz doesn’t always come easy growing up in the dusty plains of West Texas, but that’s where it all began for Tom Braxton. Lubbock, Texas is an unlikely environment for a boy to dream of being a jazz musician. Fortunately, Tom had a direct link to this creative art form through his dad, James ("J.T.") Braxton.
After graduating valedictorian from high school, Tom attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas on track and music scholarships. “I love to run, and the 200, 400, and 1600-meter relay were my events.” During his college years, Braxton formed the jazz fusion band “No Compromise” which toured the southwest and opened concerts for Joe Sample, Stanley Clarke, George Howard, and many others. The band performed many of Tom’s original compositions which helped to fine-tune his writing style.
As his college years came to a close, the band fizzled out and Tom launched a solo career. His first act of business was to join forces with keyboardist and producer Bernard Wright to release his solo debut, Your Move. “The highlight of my first release was having the opportunity to record a duet with long-time friend Kirk Whalum on the song “Peacemaker.” Bernard Wright not only produced Braxton’s first CD, but was instrumental in connecting him to a gi
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Tom Braxton
Home » Jazz Musicians » Tom Braxton
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Biography
Tom Braxton has garnered critical acclaim while thrilling audiences of all ages from coast to coast and abroad for over two decades.
Braxton has toured extensively with both Earl Klugh and Wayman Tisdale, serving as the latter’s Musical Director. He’s also shared the stage with many notable artists including Bob James, Lee Ritenour, Dave Koz, Marcus Miller, Paul Jackson Jr., George Duke, Kirk Whalum, Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, Sheila E., Rick Braun, Keiko Matsui, Brian Culbertson, Candy Dulfer, Warren Hill,
Paul Brown, Jonathan Butler, Peter White, Jeff Golub, Norman Brown, and Philip Bailey. Tom’s own music can be heard on radio and television airwaves nationwide, and his albums have hit numerous jazz charts and best seller lists including Billboard, RadioWave,
SmoothJazz.com, and Amazon. He was inducted into the West Texas Walk of Fame in 2017. He has been featured in media and publications such as JAZZIZ, Smooth Jazz News, The Saxophone Journal, CBS's The Saturday Early Show, Ugandan Television, and Daystar Television Network.